Justice Malaba, during a pre-trial conference with all parties to Chamisa’s court challenge in his chambers in Harare, reportedly ordered that losing candidates could only file their responses if they were opposed to Chamisa’s application.

Malaba also set August 22 as the date for the hearing of the presidential challenge.

Chamisa listed all the 23 applicants and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) as respondents in the matter in which he wants to overturn Mnangagwa’s narrow win in the July 30 watershed polls.

“What the Chief Justice said is that you can only file if you are opposed to the application. If you are in support of the application, you had your own time to file,” MDC Alliance secretary-general, Douglas Mwonzora said.

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) presidential candidate Daniel Shumba, who had filed in support of Chamisa’s challenge also confirmed the development, but said he was against the idea.

“We can’t have anybody to say if you are supporting Chamisa we can’t hear you. We can only hear anyone supporting Mnangagwa,” Shumba said.

“Respondents must be heard, you cannot muzzle people. There is nothing in the Constitutional Court that allows for the muzzling of litigants.”

According to Shumba, Justice Malaba accused the other candidates filing in support of Chamisa of trying to bring their arguments through the back door. The top judge argued if the other losing presidential candidates were against Mnangagwa’s victory, they should have filed their own petitions within the seven days prescribed by the law, not to hide behind the MDC Alliance leader’s court challenge.

But Shumba said his right to be heard was guaranteed in sections 165 and 167 of the Constitution.

“It doesn’t matter whether I am a respondent or applicant. I have the right to be heard,” he said.

“I will not be intimidated to abandon my democratic and constitutional right.”

“I did not attend the meeting, but I am consulting with my lawyers to hear their legal opinion on this. You know Zanu PF has always wanted to dismiss this matter on a technicality and I don’t know how legally or politically this can be sustained,” Manyika said.